Objective: This study assessed the behavioral and cardiorespiratory effects of medetomidine (M) administered with and without tramadol (T) in horses. Methods: Eight horses were sedated intravenously with M (5 µg/kg) alone or with T (2 mg/ kg) in a arandomized, blind, two-way crossover trial. Behavioral responses, including head height above the ground (HHAG), postural instability (PI), and response to pressure stimulus (RPS), and cardiorespiratory responses, including vital variables and blood analyses, were assessed following administration. Results: There were no clinically meaningful differences in cardiorespiratory values, HHAG, or PI between the groups. The RPS score over the scapula was significantly higher in the medetomidine and tramadol (MT) group (p < 0.05) and a trend towards a higher RPS score over the femur was observed (p = 0.08) in the MT group. Heart rate decreased significantly below baseline from 10 to 40 min in both treatments. Conclusions and Relevance: These results suggest that the MT combination may provide sufficient sedation and analgesia with minimal cardiorespiratory changes in horses.

A 4-year-old thoroughbred mare was referred to the Jeju National University Equine Hospital as it exhibited stallion-like behavior and was unmanageable during training. A transrectal ultrasound revealed an enlarged left ovary. We decided on a standing laparoscopic ovariectomy through the left flank. Three portals were positioned to permit triangulation for optimal visualization with minimal incisions. The enlarged ovary was resected successfully. Histological examination confirmed the presence of a fibroma. The mare recovered without complications and returned to racing within 3 months post-surgery. The successful outcome seen in this mare indicates that laparoscopic surgery has multiple advantages, including faster recovery times and minimal scarring. This approach is recommended for mares presenting with ovarian fibromas, particularly those intended for a future career in athletics.

A seven-month pregnant 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare presented with acute abdominal pain to Jeju National University Equine Hospital. At presentation, a nasogastric intubation revealed 10 L of gastric reflux; rectal palpation and ultrasound revealed dilated loops and thickening of the walls of the small intestine. An exploratory laparotomy revealed strangulation of the small intestine due to a large abdominal mass. The mass was double-ligated and resected blindly due to the short pedicle. An enterectomy was not performed as intestinal motility was detected following the mass removal. Histopathological examination confirmed that the mass was a lipoma, measuring 24 cm × 16 cm × 16 cm in size. On day 8 post-surgery, the mare was discharged without complications. This case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of strangulation of the small intestine by a pedunculated lipoma, thus providing useful information on lipoma in horses.

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been acknowledged as an effective mean of preventing infection and hospitalization.However, the emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has led to substantial increase in infections among children and adolescents. Vaccineinduced immunity and longevity have not been well defined in this population. Therefore, we aimed to analyze humoral and cellular immune responses against ancestral and SARSCoV-2 variants after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine in healthy adolescents. Although vaccination induced a robust increase of spike-specific binding Abs and neutralizing Abs against the ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants, the neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant was significantly low. On the contrary, vaccine-induced memory CD4+ T cells exhibited substantial responses against both ancestral and Omicron spike proteins.Notably, CD4+ T cell responses against both ancestral and Omicron strains were preserved at 3 months after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine without waning. Polyfunctionality of vaccine-induced memory T cells was also preserved in response to Omicron spike protein.The present findings characterize the protective immunity of vaccination for adolescents in the era of continuous emergence of variants/subvariants.

This study elucidates the anti-cancer potential of gallic acid (GA) as a promising therapeutic agent that exerts its effect by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway. To prove our research rationale, we used diverse experimental methods such as cell viability assay, colony formation assay, tumor spheroid formation assay, cell cycle analysis, TUNEL assay, Western blot analysis, xenograft mouse model and histological analysis. Treatment with GA inhibited cell proliferation in dose-dependent manner as measured by cell viability assay at 48 h. GA and cisplatin (CDDP) also inhibited colony formation and tumor spheroid formation. In addition, GA and CDDP induced apoptosis, as determined by the distribution of early and late apoptotic cells and DNA fragmentation. Western blot analysis revealed that inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway induced upregulation of p53 (tumor suppressor protein), which in turn regulated cell cycle related proteins such as p21, p27, Cyclin D1 and E1, and intrinsic apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3. The anti-cancer effect of GA was further confirmed in an in vivo mouse model. Intraperitoneal injection with GA for 4 weeks in an A549-derived tumor xenograft model reduced the size of tumor mass. Injection of them downregulated the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and p-Akt, but upregulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3 in tumor tissues. Taken together, these results indicated that GA hindered lung cancer progression by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, suggesting that GA would be a potential therapeutic agent against non-small cell lung cancer.

Over the years, diffusion tractography has seen increasing use for comparing minute differences in connectivity of brain structures in neurodegenerative diseases and treatments. Studies on connectivity between basal ganglia has been a focal point for studying the effects of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, as well as the effects of treatments such as deep brain stimulation. Additionally, in previous studies, diffusion tractography was utilized in disease mouse models to identify white matter alterations, as well as biomarkers that occur in the progression of disease. However, despite the extensive use of mouse models to study model diseases, the structural connectivity of the mouse basal ganglia has been inadequately explored. In this study, we present the methodology of segmenting the basal ganglia of a mouse brain, then generating diffusion tractography between the segmented basal ganglia structures. Additionally, we compare the relative levels of connectivity of connecting fibers between each basal ganglia structure, as well as visualize the shapes of each connection. We believe that our results and future studies utilizing diffusion tractography will be beneficial for properly assessing some of the connectivity changes that are found in the basal ganglia of various mouse models.
Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Biomarkers ; Brain ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Diffusion ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mice ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; White Matter

Obesity causes inflammation and impairs thermogenic functions in brown adipose tissue (BAT). The adipokine lipocalin 2 (LCN2) has been implicated in inflammation and obesity. Herein, we investigated the protective effects of caloric restriction (CR) on LCN2-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress in the BAT of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Mice were fed a HFD for 20 weeks and then either continued on the HFD or subjected to CR for the next 12 weeks. CR led to the browning of the white fat-like phenotype in HFD-fed mice. Increased expressions of LCN2 and its receptor in the BAT of HFD-fed mice were significantly attenuated by CR. Additionally, HFD+CR-fed mice had fewer neutrophils and macrophages expressing LCN2 and iron-positive cells than HFD-fed mice. Further, oxidative stress and mitochondrial fission induced by a HFD were also significantly attenuated by CR. Our findings indicate that the protective effects of CR on inflammation and oxidative stress in the BAT of obese mice may be associated with regulation of LCN2.
Adipokines ; Adipose Tissue, Brown ; Animals ; Caloric Restriction ; Diet, High-Fat ; Inflammation ; Lipocalins ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Mice, Obese ; Mitochondrial Dynamics ; Neutrophils ; Obesity ; Oxidative Stress ; Phenotype

Peptic ulcer bleeding is treated using endoscopic hemostasis using clips or bands. Pancreas divisum (PD), a congenital anomaly of the pancreas, usually has no clinical symptoms; however, pancreatitis may occur if there are disturbances in the drainage of pancreatic secretions. We report an unusual case of PD accompanied by acute pancreatitis, following endoscopic band ligation for duodenal ulcer bleeding. A 48-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to melena. An upper endoscopy revealed a small ulcer with oozing adjacent minor papilla. An endoscopic band ligation was performed on this lesion. Acute pancreatitis developed suddenly 6 hours after the band ligation and improved dramatically after removal of the band. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed, revealing complete PD. Endoscopic band ligation is known as the effective method for peptic ulcer bleeding; however, it should be used carefully in duodenal ulcer bleeding near the minor duodenal papilla due to the possibility of PD.
Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Drainage ; Duodenal Ulcer* ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Melena ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis* ; Peptic Ulcer ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify factors that affect in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: We reviewed 99 IVF cycles in 52 women with DOR between September 2010 and January 2015. DOR was defined as serum anti-Müllerian hormone level of <1.1 ng/dL or serum follicle-stimulating hormone level of ≥20 mIU/mL. Total 96 cycles in 50 patients were evaluated after excluding fertility preservation cases. RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate was 11.5% per cycle, and the total cancellation rate was 34.4%. Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly associated with the antral follicle count and the cause of the DOR. Age, serum anti-Müllerian hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, antral follicle count, peak estradiol level, and the cause of DOR were significantly associated with cycle cancellation. However, history of previous ovarian surgery remained as a significant factor of clinical pregnancy (model 1: odds ratio [OR] 10.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46 to 70.84, P=0.019; model 2: OR 10.85, 95% CI 1.05 to 111.71, P=0.045). In cancellation models, idiopathic or previous chemotherapy group showed borderline significance (model 1: OR 3.76, 95% CI 0.83 to 17.04, P=0.086; model 2: OR 3.15, 95% CI 0.84 to 11.84, P=0.09). CONCLUSION: DOR caused by previous ovarian surgery may show better pregnancy outcome, whereas that caused by chemotherapy could significantly increase the cycle cancellation rate. Furthermore, patients with DOR who previously received gonadotoxic agents may show reduced efficacy and increased risk of IVF cycle cancellation.
Drug Therapy ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertility Preservation ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Odds Ratio ; Ovarian Reserve* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate

Endoscopic closure techniques have been introduced for the repair of duodenal wall perforations that occur during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We report a case of successful repair of a large duodenal wall perforation by using double endoscopic band ligation (EBL) and an endoclip. Lateral duodenal wall perforation occurred during ERCP in a 93-year-old woman with acute calculous cholangitis. We switched to a forward endoscope that had a transparent band apparatus. A 2.0-cm oval-shaped perforation was found at the lateral duodenal wall. We repaired the perforation by sequentially performing double EBL and endoclipping. The first EBL was performed at the proximal edge of the perforation orifice, and two-thirds of the perforation were repaired. The second EBL, which also included the contents covered under the first EBL, repaired the defect almost completely. Finally, to account for the possible presence of a residual perforation, an endoclip was applied at the distal end of the perforation. The detection and closure of the perforation were completed within 10 minutes. We suggest that double EBL is an effective method for closure.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Endoscopes ; Female ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Methods